Belt



Dec. 19, 1944. D, M WmTH 2,365,316

BELT Filed April 12, 1943 ATTORNEYS:

Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Dorsey M. Wirth, Bucyrus., Ohio Application April 12, 1943, Serial Nqr-482,804

`2* Claims. (Cl. 2-322i This invention. relates to belts used in supporting apparel, the primary object of the invention being to provide a .belt having yieldable qualities, so that the belt will automatically adjust itself to the body of the user and will properly support the apparel with which it is used without an uncomfortable binding result.

An important object of lthe invention is to provide a yieldable member for connecting the ends of the belt, the connecting member being secured to the belt in such a Way that expansion of the coils of the connecting member, beyond a predetermined point, will be prevented, thereby relieving the coils of the connecting member of undue strainvwhich would ytend to render th connecting member inoperative.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connecting member or buckle for belts which will be practically concealed whenin use, presenting a smooth and pleasing appearance.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel steps in the method and certain details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims,`it being understood that changes may be made in the method disclosed and in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a rear elevational view ofthe ends of a belt, illustrating the connecting member as positioned thereon.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the ends of the strap and connecting member, taken on line 2-2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawing in detail, one end of a belt is indicated by the reference character 5, and as shown the end of the belt'is folded rearwardly upon itself, providing the loop 6. The inner side of the loop is formed with an elongated opening 'I which is formed longitudinally of the belt, at a point intermediate ther side edges thereof.

The connecting member, or buckle, is indicated prises a length of spring wirematerial forged into a relatively flat coil to conform to theshape of the belt or strap with which it is used. `The coils of the connecting member are somewhat longer than the width of the strap, so that the inner fold of the strap, when securing the connecting member to `the strap or buckle, may pass through the coils, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing. Formed at one end of the coil is a. loop 9, through which one end of the connecting strap IIl is passed, the ends ofthe strap being brought together and secured between the end I I of the loop and main portion of the belt by means of the lines of stitching I2, Formed at the opposite -end of the connecting member and emanating from the outer ilat side thereof, is a tongue I3 which has its end extended at right angles, providing a head I4, the head bef ing extended through the elongated opening l, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing.

The coils of the connecting member ar'e so arranged that they provide a spring of the con-y tractile type wherein the several coils of the spring are in abutting relation with respect-to each other and are adapted to expand when a n pull is directed at the ends of the spring.

Since the normal position ofthe spring is as shown by Figure 2, it will be obvious that when i the opposite end I5 of the belt, which is provided generally by the reference character 8 and comwith openings to receive the head I4, is positioned to connect the ends of the belt, the coiled spring or connecting member will be somewhat stretched. Should the pull directed to the tongue I3 be of such a degree as to unduly stretch the connecting member, thehead I4 will contact with the outer end of the elongated opening 1, restricting further movement of the coiled spring, preventingy damageto the connecting member, which would, no doubt, render the connecting member unt for further use.

I claim: 1. In a belt, a strap having one end thereof folded rearwardly upon itself, providing a loop, the strap at one side of the loop having an elonf gated opening extending inwardly from the outer end of the loop, a spring `member coiled' around the side of the loop having the elongated opening,

means for securing onevend of the spring member to the strap within the loop, a tongue having a right-angled end, formed at one end of the spring member, said tongue being adapted to operate through the elongated opening, and said tongue adapted to extend into openings formed in the opposite end of the strap, adjustably securing the endsl of the strap together.

2. In a belt, a strap having one end thereofv folded rearwardly upon itself, providing a loop, a strap at one -side of the loop having an elongated opening` extending inwardlyfromthe outer end bf the loop, a spring member coiled around one side of the loop, means for securing one end of the spring member to the strap, the opposite en d of the spring member extending forwardly and outwardly through the `elongated opening, and Y 

